 It was in Nea Smyrni, towards the end of the
70's, when a group of friends began expressing their
adolescent restlessness through their self designed
theatrical works. Little skits with the inclusion of live
music and original song were acted out in cafes and
student unions. That novel band was made up of: Nikos
Portokaloglou, Haris Kavellieratos, Yiorgos Filippakis,
Odysseas Tsakalos, Argyris Amitsis, Michael Moustakis,
Yiannis Kerkyras, Nikos Milionis and Ioanna Tsakalou.
From these early theatrical beginnings, the nine friends
moved further towards music and eventually split into two
new bands, "FATME" and "Hanomai
giati remvazo".
The early
line-up of FATME consisted of: Nikos Portokaloglou,
Odysseas Tsakalos and Dimitris Kalatzis, whose first self
named LP, sent shock waves through the Greek recording
industry when it was released, with its expression of the
feelings of the restless youth of the political
reformation era. Songs such as "The Prodigal
Son" and "Behind the shutters" showed a
sensitivity that had disappeared from Greek songs through
the use of protest chants and epic shouts. FATME were the
first to speak of the "Hellenic Electric Song"
and the beginning of a new musical era.
The band's
live shows began to grow with the addition of Michael
Moustakis on the keyboards and accordion, causing a
sensation wherever they appeared and groups of fans began
to gather around them. Their second album
"Lies" seems to be more settled. Recorded with
careful attention, it contains the undiluted musical
position of FATME, a dangerous balance between east and
west, amongst Greek traditional song and the rock
aesthetic.
FATME is
now considered the great hope of the greek song. Yet they
themselves, never remain still but continue to evolve.
After the departure of Dimitris Kalatzis, they travel to
Thessaloniki where they record their third album titled
"Risk" in the studio of Nikos Papazoglou. That
album, from its name alone, indicates the worrisome frame
of mind of its creators. A multitude of remarkable
musicians lend their talents to enrich the sound of
FATME, culminating in a mix of Greek tradition and
Afro-American seeking groups like the Talking Heads. The
eastern scales are enriched with multi-rythmic
developments, while the lyrics mature and ripen away from
the klostrophobia, now expressing the whole "lost
generation of the political reformation era" to the
cutting edge words of "There's a serious
reason". Concerts followed the album's distribution,
where FATME - now a trio of Portokaloglou, Tsakalos and
Moustakis - was backed by a number of distinguished
musicians, producing an intensity on stage, which had
only been hinted at in their studio recordings.
The
breakthrough to a wider audience came with the release of
the fourth album with the characterictic title
"GETTING OUT OF THE TUNNEL". Here, things were
much simpler and clearer cut than on "RISK",
sboth in lyrics and musical composition. The writing of
Nikos Portokaloglou, even more mature and ripened, sheds
the robe of adolencense to acquire the conservative
optimism of a thinking man, with a broader, more eager
outlook on life. FATME now shine with their own personal
style, which underlines the addition of Mimis Ntoutsoulis
on bass guitar, finalizing the group's line-up. The
co-operation of Haroula Alexiou and the cheerful
"Kalokairaki" take FATME beyond their known
audience. The success of the album follows several
appearences on TV and special tributes, culminating in
the large concert at Lycabettus theater.
FATME are
now considered to be the most successful greek group.
They appear on Dionisis Savopoulos' TV show "Zeto to
Elliniko Tragoudi" and Manos Hatzidakis' concerts
and recordings of "Programma tou Seiriou". At
the end of '87 they record their fifth smash album
entitled "TRIP" - their best to date. The
pre-release of the song "Champions", inspired
by the EUROBASKET fever, was the first sign of a hit. The
songs "Deep Dive", "Trip", "Put
me through the ropes" surpass the vission of
"Tunnel" and deal directly with the personal
quest of a person's self completion.
The group
started to make a major impact with concerts, interviews
and live appearances multiplied on all the television
channels. The group started to make a major impact with
concerts, interviews and live appearances multiplied on
all the television channels. FATME are now ready for a
review of their works until this point, which culminates
in a celebratory live concert at Lycabettus theater with
the participation of many special guests. The concert is
recorded, filmed and presented live on the radio. An
unforgetable night!...
With the
realease of the double live album entitled
"Palko" and having completed eight highly
successful years together, FATME agreed to part ways,
each one choosing a different road. "We've completed
8 years," says NP on the inside cover of the album,
"together with Odysseas, Michael, Mitsos in the
beginning and then with Mimis where we worked playing and
played working. With 'Palko' - a live album containing 20
variations - we have completed our adolescent cycle.
Thank you for your company and till we meet again."
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